LOCATION MARCETTA           MT
Established Series
Rev. JAL
10/1999

MARCETTA SERIES


The Marcetta series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium. These soils are on alluvial fans and stream terraces in intermountain valleys. Slopes are 2 to 60 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 17 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 42 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Pachic Haplocryolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Marcetta gravelly loam, native grass cover (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).

A1--0 to 10 inches; dark gray (7.5YR 4/1) gravelly loam, black (7.5YR 2/1) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 30 percent pebbles; neutral; gradual boundary.

A2--10 to 17 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 30 percent pebbles; neutral; gradual boundary.

A3--17 to 25 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly loam, dark brown with streaks of very dark brown (10YR 3/3 and 10YR 2/2) moist; weak medium and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 40 percent pebbles; neutral; gradual boundary. (Combined thickness of A horizons is 16 to 30 inches)

E--25 to 33 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) very gravelly loam, dark grayish brown (7.5YR 4/2) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; common fine pores; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 50 percent gravel; neutral; gradual boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)

E/B--33 to 48 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) and very pale brown (10YR 7/3) very gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; sand grains clear and unstained with few patches of clay film and clay flow; few very fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 55 percent pebbles; neutral; gradual boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)

C--48 to 70 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) extremely gravelly loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; 65 percent coarse fragments including angular fragments ranging from pebble to stone size; neutral.

TYPE LOCATION: Granite County, Montana; west and north of Drummond, Montana; 800 feet SW of the center of sec. 18, T. 11 N., R. 14 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Mean annual soil temperature - 43 to 46 degrees F.
Mean summer soil temperature - 55 to 59 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 16 to 30 inches.

A horizons - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1, 2, or 3
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 15 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 25 to 55 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3

E horizon - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 7 or 8 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Clay content: 18 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 40 to 55 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3

E/B horizon - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4
Clay content: 18 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 40 to 55 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3

C horizon - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Clay content: 20 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 50 to 65 percent--5 to 20 percent cobbles or stones; 40 to 45 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8

COMPETING SERIES:

Baconcamp (OR) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.

Behanco (CO) - is 40 to 60 inches to a lithic contact; has a udic moisture regime.

Behanin (UT) - has cambic horizons; does not have an albic horizon.

Belsac (NV) - is 20 to 40 inches to a paralithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.

Blanca (NM) - has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section.

Busterback (ID) - has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section; has 2C horizons with hue of 2.5Y or 5Y.

Caballo (NM) - does not have an albic horizon.

Campone (CA) - is somewhat poorly drained; does not have an albic horizon.

Croesus (NV) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.

Dressel (CO) - does not have an albic horizon; has a udic moisture regime.

Gateview (CO) - has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section.

Hapgood (NV) - is 40 to 60 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.

Harcany (NV) - has a mollic epipedon 30 to 70 inches thick.

Hobacker (WY) - has horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation.

Lionhead (ID) - has horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation.

Lolon (MT) - has a lithologic discontinuity at 20 to 40 inches.

Nagitsy (ID) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.

Namela (CO) - is 20 to 40 iches to a lithic contact.

Nazaton (ID) - has a cambic horizon; does not have an albic horizon; has O horizons.

Nevtah (NV) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.

Papasila (CO) - does not have an albic horizon; has a cambic horizon; has a udic moisture regime.

Parkcity (UT) - has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section; has a udic moisture regime.

Poleline (UT) - is 40 to 60 inches to a lithic contact.

Povey (ID) - is 40 to more than 60 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.

Prong (OR) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact.

Snag (CA) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has a xeric moisture regime.

Snopoc (NV) - has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section; has a xeric moisture regime.

Splitbutte (ID) - is 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact; has less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section.

Tonigut (UT) - is 40 to 60 inches to a paralithic and a lithic contact; has a udic moisture regime.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:

Landform - high terraces and alluvial fans in intermountain valleys.
Elevation - 4,000 to 6,000 feet.
Slope - 2 to 60 percent.
Parent material - alluvium.
Climate - long, cold winter; cool, moist springs; short summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 15 to 19 inches.
Mean annual temperature is 40 to 45 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 30 to 70 days.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Marcetta soils are used mainly for range. Potential native vegetation is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, cheatgrass brome, sagebrush, and open stands of ponderosa pine.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Marcetta soils are moderately extensive and are widely distributed in western Montana.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Granite County (Philipsburg-Drummond Area), Montana, 1972.

REMARKS: Soil Interpretations Record: MT0568. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a mollic epipedon from the soil surface to 25 inches (A horizons); an albic horizon from 25 to 33 inches (E horizon); a particle-size control section from 10 to 40 inches (A2, A3, E, and part of E/B horizons). Marcetta soils have a cryic temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.